Guess who's 3!?!

Can you believe it? I barely can! At 6:44 pm on this day 3 years ago I met my sweet baby james for the first time and became a mommy. It feels like just yesterday he was like this

brand new :)

One

Two

James was greeted this morning with mommy and daddy singing happy birthday and then opened his special birthday presents. The $5 plastic golf club set was his favorite (not what I expected) and he's been playing golf all day! Then it was a special breakfast kicked off by a yummy birthday cupcake - how fun is cake for breakfast! I had planned a full day of "james-a-palooza" with a visit to I-jump in the morning and swimming in the afternoon but John-Mark is getting those terrible 2 year molars and isn't really up for too much fun right now. But we were able to get out of the house and meet daddy for lunch at one of James' favorite places - Moe's. He loves some chips and salsa:)

My sweet, sweet first born. You are truly the sweetest boy I know. In almost every way you are cut from the same cloth as your daddy. You LOVE LOVE LOVE to be with your friends and you talk about them all the time. You ask when they are coming to see you and you tell me that you love them. You’ll often call them yours, like “my beau” or “my john-mark”. You love to be around people and rarely choose to spend time alone. You never meet a stranger and talk to everyone everywhere we go from people opening the door for us at the gym to check out clerks at the grocery store. You tell them all about you, how old you are, where your daddy is (at work, making money you say) who your friends are, where you’ve been, where you’re going and on and on. As of late you’ve been telling everyone “I be 3 on August the 11^th”. You also pay a lot of attention and will say things to people like “I like your haircut” or if someone has a blanket you’ll ask if they are cold or tired.

You have an unending love for learning and you are always asking questions and figuring things out and telling me things that I didn’t even know you knew. Every night when your daddy comes home from work you tell him all about your day, and much like your mommy you rarely leave any little detail out (that you do get from me).

This summer you have shown us your adventurous side as we have gone swimming lots and you have no fear. You love to jump in the water and don’t mind going under at all. In fact, we went to the lake not long ago and you were jumping off your daddy’s shoulders (who was standing on the pier) in to the water and LOVING it. As soon as you came up you would say “one more time daddy!”
I love to hear you laugh with your brother or your friends. Your laugh is so contagious and a real belly laugh. When you crack up it is just too cute! You also love to be silly and try to make everyone else laugh as well.

You have become such a great big brother. Of course you and John-Mark have your moments but for the most part you will help each other and share. You’re really a big help with Gracie and you love for us to set her in your lap so you can hold her and you like to tell me “take a picture mommy” You also will help and bring me diapers or burp clothes for her and you’re always bringing her toys. You love to help give her a bottle and now that she’s eating you like to try and help with that too.

It has been such a joy to get to spend every day with you and watch you grow from our first little baby in to such a sweet boy. We are so thankful for you and love you more than words can express. Happy 3^rd Birthday to my big boy!!!